Shutdown (Nitro Crew, #4)

by Winter Travers

  I had found the thing that was going to motivate me to get the hell out of this chair, and it wasn’t racing.

  It was Mave Clark.

  *

  Mave

  What in the hell was that?

  I pulled a clean t-shirt on and tried to figure out what the hell was happening.

  Was Roc that bored that he now decided to start flirting with me? I’m sure when he said we would take a bath, he didn’t mean it that way until I got all awkward about it. After all, I would be in there when he took a bath. Though, I wasn’t sure how much of a bath it was going to be. I was worried about giving him a bath before, but now that he had made a little flirty remark to me, I was even more nervous.

  Pull it together, Mave. You’re a forty-one year old doctor. This man should not be making you blush.

  But he was making me blush.

  Roc Krinston was handsome. Hands down, there was no way I could deny it. Even before I had agreed to be his nurse, I felt an attraction to the man. It was purely physical, but it was still very much there. I figured being around his grumpy ass would help squash those feelings, but so far, that hadn’t happened. At all.

  Simply seeing the man shirtless made me forget everything except wondering what his skin would feel like under my touch.

  I ran a brush through my hair and tossed it up into a messy bun on top of my head. I swiped on some eyeshadow and eyeliner and called it good. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and I figure being at the garage didn’t really warrant a full face of makeup. I was, for sure, also not trying to impress Roc.

  “Doc! Let’s get a move on!” Roc called up the stairs.

  I rolled my eyes and shoved my feet into a pair of Toms. He’s an ass, Mave. Remember that when he takes his shirt off.

  “Coming, your royal pain in the ass,” I mumbled loudly.

  “Heard that,” he growled.

  I smiled and grabbed my purse off the bed. “Good,” I called.

  He mumbled under his breath but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I jogged down the steps and saw Roc was waiting by the front door.

  “You look good. Let’s go.” He opened the door and waited for me to grab the handles of the chair.

  “Reel it in there, Casanova. I’m not sure I can handle compliments from you. You’ll make me bipolar wanting to kill you and then like you.”

  I tipped the chair back to get it over the ledge of the door and wheeled him out of the house.

  “I’ll take it from here, Doc.” Roc wheeled himself over to the SUV while I locked the door.

  He had taken a liking to wheel himself around the house and anywhere he could get to on his own. I was always there if he needed me, but I wanted to give him as much independence as I could.

  “Slow it down there, speed racer. You’re gonna roll down the driveway and then I’m going to have to chase you down.”

  He squealed to a stop in front of the truck and left a streak of black on the driveway. “Gotta make up time, Doc. Took too long to get you out of the house.”

  I opened the door and manhandled him into the truck with minimal effort.

  At least, I thought it was minimal effort ‘til I saw Roc’s face was pale and he gripped the seat.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Bumped my leg,” he said, through gritted teeth.

  Shit. That was my fault. I was trying to get him in the truck without thinking about touching and I must have bumped him without knowing.

  “Let me run in and get your pills. We should have had you take one this morning.” I was so occupied ignoring Roc about going to the shop that I hadn’t done my job.

  Roc nodded and didn’t complain that we were going to be even later to get to the garage.

  I jogged back into the house and knew that Roc really must have been hurting if he didn’t argue with me.

  This was not a good start to the day.

  *

  Chapter Nine

  Roc

  “You really think that is the best place to stack the tires?”

  Frankie stood next to the four stacked tires. “Where else would you like me to put them? There is no sense in putting them back with the others because we’re going to need them on Wednesday or Thursday when we head to the test track.”

  “That’s three days from now. They’re in the way there.”

  Frankie rolled her eyes. “I thought you were on sick leave for a month? It’s only been three days since you were released from the hospital and you’re here bugging the hell out of me.”

  “I’m making sure you guys aren’t slacking off.”

  Brooks walked up and pressed a kiss to the side of Frankie’s head. “Pretty sure we weren’t slacking off this weekend when we took the finals.”

  “You weren’t, but now you need to keep it up.”

  “Damn, Roc. Even rolling around the shop in a wheelchair, you’re a damn drill sergeant,” Brooks laughed.

  “That’s what you pay me for,” I reminded him.

  “Pretty sure I pay you for your vacation time, too. Maybe you should take advantage of that?”

  I shook my head. “No need to take a vacation. Especially in the middle of the season.”

  Brooks looked at Frankie. “He doesn’t get it.”

  Frankie rolled her eyes. “I agree, now isn’t the time to take vacation, but the man could take a few days off without coming into the garage.” She turned her gaze to me. “Or, if you do need to come in, at least leave me be. You know Remy and Jay are the ones who need the guidance, not me.”

  I had been telling them what to do, but they were in the car hauler hiding because they knew I couldn’t get up there. “Just put the tires where they belong.”

  Frankie threw her hands up in the air and stormed off.

  “You giving Frankie hell now?” Mave walked out of the office with two cups of coffee in her hands.

  She had been hiding out in the office with Harlyn most of the day.

  Brooks chuckled. “Damn, Roc. She’s only been with you a few days and she already knows your ways.”

  Mave handed me the cup of coffee with a smile on her lips. “Black, like your soul, Chief.”

  I took the cup with a scowl. “It’s only funny when I say it.”

  “Right,” she laughed. “Are you done bossing everyone around?”

  She looked so carefree and happy.

  Brooks shook his head. “She really does know you pretty well, Roc.”

  I flipped Brooks off. “Didn’t ask you.”

  I wasn’t sure if she knew me, or if she was just good at ignoring my shitty mood. Either way, is was good to know Mave wasn’t easily scared away.

  Remy walked back into the shop with his arms raised over his head. “Rooster?”

  “All the shit is done, and I am ready to have two days off with my woman!” Jay shouted.

  “Sweet Jesus,” Brooks mumbled.

  Harlyn stormed into the garage. “Remy!”

  “What?” he asked, clueless.

  I was clueless too, but it seemed like Harlyn was going to rip his head off so I was okay with whatever was about to go down.

  “You can’t come in here shouting about the Rooster when my dad can’t go there,” Harlyn scolded. “I told you his cholesterol was high and his sodium was through the roof.”

  Well, I guess I was okay with anything but that. Harlyn kept freaking out over my cholesterol when Mave hadn’t even mentioned it.

  Remy scratched his head. “You did?”

  Harlyn spun to look at Mave. “Tell him, Mave. Tell Remy that he can’t shout about the Rooster because my dad can’t eat that stuff.”

  Mave blinked slowly. “Uh, well, I guess?”

  “You guess?” Harlyn huffed and folded her arms over her chest. “All of his numbers were high when he was in the hospital,” she insisted.

  Mave rested her hand on the handle of my wheelchair. “I mean, I can’t really discuss that stuff in front of you all.”

  “Well...I
mean...We don’t need his number or anything,” Harlyn sputtered. “I’m just saying, he should watch what he eats and going to the Rooster is not the best thing for him.”

  Mave cleared her throat and shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like he eats there every day. I don’t think a cheeseburger is going to send him into cardiac arrest or anything.”

  Jay laughed. “A week ago, he was eating there every day.”

  I shot him a glare. Jay needed to keep his mouth shut right now.

  “Why can’t we go somewhere else for dinner?” Harlyn whined.

  “Where?” Jay and Remy asked in unison.

  Harlyn turned back to Mave expectantly. “What would you recommend, Mave?”

  “I, ah, well.” She opened and closed her mouth but nothing came out.

  “Knock it off, Harlyn. She’s a doctor, not Google.” I glanced at Mave. “Besides, we’re eating at home. You guys can go to the Rooster.” I wasn’t up for hanging out with the crew anymore today.

  Harlyn took a step back and looked sheepish. “Oh, well, I guess I just figured you would want to go out with us.”

  “We can go out if you want, Roc. A cheeseburger isn’t going to be the end of the world.” Mave’s tone was even, and I could tell that she was trying to defuse whatever the hell was going on.

  “Nah, it’s been a long day.” At least I made it through the day helping get everything put away. Going out with the crew did sound like a good idea in theory, but I knew I would probably fall asleep before the food even got to the table. “We’ll do a barbeque at the house this weekend if you guys want to come over.”

  Brooks took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll talk to Frankie. See if she had any plans this weekend.”

  “Are you talking about me?” Frankie shouted from the other side of the shop.

  “Yeah,” Brooks hollered. “Wanna know if you want to go to the new sex toy shop over in Drafton?”

  “So we can get that ten inch dildo you were wanting?” Frankie fired back.

  “Burn!” Remy hooted.

  Jay doubled over laughing and even I had to admit that was pretty good.

  “Dude,” Remy chuckled. “I have told you that Frankie has three brothers, and she is well versed on every and any comeback. You. Can. Not. Beat. Her.”

  Even Mave couldn’t hide her smile.

  “All right, assholes. I’m heading out. Enjoy your two days off.”

  I started rolling toward the open overhead door, and I felt Mave come behind me and help push. My arms were exhausted from wheeling all around the shop today, and it was a welcome relief for her to push me.

  “I’m fucking old,” I grumbled when I was finally in the truck and we were headed back to the house.

  “If you’re old, then I’m old,” Mave laughed.

  “I’m fifty-one years old, Mave.” I ran my fingers through my hair and chuckled. “The gray hair gives that away, though, right?”

  “I’ve had patients in their twenties who were gray. Your hair color has nothing to do with how old you are.”

  “Yeah, those ones were gray by choice. Came from a fucking box. This gray hair is from a twenty-seven year old daughter and over thirty years of early mornings and long nights at the track.”

  “Those patients, by the way, were naturally gray, and the only reason you feel old right now is because you were just in a car accident.” Mave glanced over by me. “Besides, gray looks good on you.”

  I sighed and stared out the window. “Seven days ago, Mave. Seven days ago, I was in a car accident, and I feel like it happened seven months ago.”

  “You really think you’re just going to bounce back like that, don’t you?” Mave laughed and turned down the street to home. “Seriously, Roc. You need to just slow down. I don’t know how many times I need to say that to you.”

  I laid my head back on the headrest and sighed.

  Mav pulled up to the house and killed the engine. “Dinner, bath, and then bed, Roc. You had a long day.”

  I couldn’t argue with her.

  It was a long day, and I was just getting old as fuck.

  *

  Chapter Ten

  Mave

  “I don’t think the nurses in the hospital gave me a more thorough sponge bath.”

  I ringed out the wash cloth and draped it over the faucet. “I’ve seen plenty of sponge baths in my life, and I’ve also given my fair share of them.” I stood up and rolled my head back and forth. “I was a CNA in high school and ‘til I was a sophomore in college. Though you did basically all of the work today.”

  “You were a nurse and then decided giving sponge baths wasn’t for you so you became a doctor?”

  I shook my head. “No. Doctor was always my endgame, but I wanted to know everything a nurse did before I became the person who would be telling them what to do. I wanted to make sure what I wanted them to do, I could also do.”

  Roc sat on the shower chair Susan had brought over with his legs hanging out of the shower. He had done ninety percent of washing himself. I was just there to wash his hair and back and to make sure he didn’t fall out of the chair.

  “Kind of like how I worked my way through all of the pit crew jobs before I became crew chief.”

  “I think so,” I laughed. “Your racing world is still pretty weird to me, but yeah.”

  It should have been weird or even awkward for me to give Roc a bath, but somehow, it wasn’t. I mean, it was awkward for a second, and then Roc cracked a joke about me taking advantage of him if he dropped the soap.

  I had managed to take his underwear off without glimpsing his dick, and I was hoping to be able to do the same when I put them back on.

  Truth time.

  Roc was hot. I couldn’t deny it. I was a hot blooded woman who could appreciate a handsome man. Roc fit squarely in that category.

  But he was still paying me to take care of him, and I didn’t want it to be weird when he paid me and then I had also seen his dick.

  I worked his underwear over the casts on his legs then my eyes drifted over his shoulders when he moved the towel that had been covering his dick. I waited ‘til he lifted himself up enough to pull them on all of the way.

  “Are those some more of your nurse skills?”

  My eyes connected with his. “Huh?”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “The ability for you to completely zone out and ignore the fact I was naked five seconds ago.”

  “Well, when you point it out, it makes it a tad bit harder to ignore.”

  Sass seemed to be the way to go right now. My eyes were connected with Roc’s, and I was not going to look down at his crotch. It was taking all of my willpower not to take advantage of him.

  “Just a tad bit harder? You’re gonna give me a complex here, Mave. I already feel old.”

  “We’re not doing this, Roc. You’re not gonna flirt with me.”

  “I don’t flirt,” he stated.

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Right. Then what the heck are you doing right now?”

  “Talking.”

  I tipped my head to the side. “About you being naked.”

  “Was I just naked?”

  I stood and grabbed a clean pair of shorts off the counter. “You were, but now you’re not so we don’t need to talk about it.” I worked his shorts up his legs and waited for him to lift his butt. I was bent over at the waist and my face was right in front of his. “Lift up, Roc.”

  He slowly lifted up, and I quickly pulled his shorts up. “You seem a bit flustered right now, Doc.”

  I was, but did he really need to point it out? I was feeling things for Roc that I shouldn’t. Never mind the fact I had just stood in the shower with him for twenty minutes while he was naked with only a small wash cloth over his dick, I was also just warming up to him in general. Sure, he was gruff and to the point, but that was part of his charm. That was Roc, and I oddly liked it.

  “Shirt?” I asked.

  “No.”

  I wis
hed he would have said yes. It was hard enough dealing with a shirtless Roc when I was giving him a bath. Having dinner and watching TV with him when he was shirtless was a whole different ballpark.

  I helped him into the wheelchair and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t have to touch him anymore. “What do you want for dinner?”

  I had thought of having dinner beforehand but figured Roc would be dead tired after eating, and I wanted to make sure he got a bath.

  “Burger. Fries,” he grunted.

  “Then why didn’t we just go out with everyone else?”

  The Rooster was known for their juicy, delicious burgers. There was no way I could make a burger even close to those.

  “Because I wasn’t up for going out. It’s fine for me to wheel around the garage in this chair, but I’m not really up for going out in public.”

  I hung up the towels and watched Roc wheel out of the bathroom. “Why don’t you want to go out in public?” I asked.

  I followed Roc out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

  He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. “Because I don’t want to.”

  “I’m sure you’ve got friends outside of the garage. We could go out with them one night if you want.”

  I didn’t want Roc to think he had to stay in the house doing nothing. He had two broken legs, but he was getting better every day and able to get around pretty good as long as he didn’t need to walk.

  “Not really up for the pity party, Doc.”

  I pulled the grill pan out from under the cabinet and set it on the stove. “They’re your friends. Why would they have a pity party?”

  Roc wheeled into the living room. “Just not into people telling me how sorry they are about the accident..”

  “Well, we are going to do some things that don’t involve going to the garage.”

  I had a week left of my vacation from work, and I wanted to do a couple of things that had been on my list. I had planned on staying with Roc for at least two more weeks after I went to work, but before then, I wanted to go have some fun.

  “Like what?”

  “Well, I’ve always wanted to go to the aquarium in Chicago. Then we could do pizza and walk around downtown.”